Chef's Choice: Mikael Helies on Saladworx

Dornoch Castle Hotel's head chef tells us why he likes their products so much

One of my favourite local suppliers is Saladworx. I’ve been buying produce from them since moving to the North Highlands some years ago, and it has been a pleasure to watch them grow.

They produce an incredible variety of leaves and edible flowers all year round – it’s so much more than lollo rosso and endive – and they don’t use chemicals or pesticides, which is an amazing feat in a climate like ours.

Over winter we get some hardier leaves that require cooking to bring them to life, but in the summer the taste of the leaves can be like a firework in your mouth, and the colours and textures are wonderful.

The beauty is they can be served so simply, just with a dressing and perhaps some crunchy vegetables for a contrast in textures.